Fear Four is one of the works being presented in a program of works entitled Neurosis
Writer, Greg Andreas is following on from his success with "
Wogs in Love" which was presented at the Judith Wright Centre in 2017, with a chronological presentation of short works which reflect his progression as a writer over the past thirty-seven years. Many of these short plays were written in his second year at University, while others like, "
Just Business" and "
The Sale" come from a period of writing twenty years ago. He writes, "
these short plays for me are a reminder of a time when I was trying to find my style as a writer." While Greg has directed a number of the plays himself, he has also included two other directors, and as a counterpoint to his own works, plays from two other writers who he has recently come in contact with, Kate Fester who wrote the work "
Outskirts" and a work by an American author Daniel Guyton, "
Dead Giveaway". In an effort to represent the "raw" nature of these early works, he has included some fresh new faces on the stage who are making their debut in the acting world.
The plays are a gritty and often confronting look at life, exploring ideas of sexuality, multiculturalism and gender identity and the role they play in deception, manipulation and neurosis. Interestingly, a few of these works are indicative of life at the time they were written and it is interesting to see how society has (or has not) evolved since their conception. Such is true of the first work presented on the program, "
The Sale", by Greg Andreas. While the stereotypes are true to the period in which the work was written, the central message of the need for human contact still rings true today.
The Sale by Greg Andreas
"Fear Three", also by Greg, sees Tristan Trisydo Concepcion presenting what happens when there is a technical hitch on a Boeing 747. This ultimately brings a man to the brink of chaos. Tristan is engaging in both this and "Reno", which appears later in the program.
Tristan Trisydo Concepcion in Reno by Greg Andreas
In "
Just Business", societal stereotypes take centre stage, almost like a tasteless joke at a bar. We are offered a look at what happens when a Chinaman, Israeli and a Greek get together at a friend's funeral and while we, as an audience, may cringe at the scene, I am sure that this typecasting will hit home as we reflect upon the impact such societal beliefs can have.
What happens when you put Chinaman, Israel and a Greek together at a funeral?
These ten short vignettes offer a look at life from a perspective from which we may not have seen things before, or may have not wanted to articulate ourselves. They are definitely aimed at an adult audience, and attendees should be prepared for coarse language, sexual themes and stereotyping.
"Neurosis" is running in the Lumen Room at Metro Arts at 7:30pm from 22nd - 24th March. Tickets are $22.20 for General Admission and $13.20 for Concessions. To find out more or to book, visit the Metro Arts Brisbane Website.
